Who is Eligible for J-1 Sponsorship?

The purpose of the J-1 visa is to increase mutual understanding between people of the United States and people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges, thereby strengthening the ties between the nations. Every year the University of Washington sponsors several hundred “Exchange Visitors” for short-term academic activities that include teaching, lecturing, observing, conducting research, or consulting. See How to sponsor a J-1 Exchange Visitor. An Exchange Visitor may hold J-1 status up to five years, plus a 30-day "grace period" following completion of the program, after which he or she is expected to return home to exercise the skills and knowledge acquired in the United States. Employment is not permitted during the 30-day grace period.

Academic departments may invite visiting faculty to perform research and/or teach. If teaching is the focus of the activity, the Exchange Visitor must be under direct supervision of department faculty and not have full responsibility for course preparation, presentation and evaluation. (The H-1B visa is generally used for faculty who have full responsibility for course preparation, and evaluation without oversight.)

• Visiting Scholar is an honorary title awarded to persons who hold professorial (including research) positions at other institutions, or other professional positions, and who are invited by an academic department but are not employed by the University of Washington during their stay.
• The Visiting Scientist title may be used by persons who do not have the MD or PhD and, thus, are not eligible for Senior Fellow or Research Associate appointments but otherwise possess a skill appropriate to an ongoing departmental research activity. The Visiting Scientist appointment is not available to foreign students enrolled and pursuing degrees at academic institutions outside the U.S.
• Foreign trained MDs and PhDs may hold Research Associate and Senior Fellow appointments. Foreign trained medical doctors sponsored by the UW's J-1 program are restricted in their ability to participate in clinical activities. (See Foreign Medical Graduates)

The Professional Scholar title is designed for professionals coming to the UW to participate in formal and established programs that provide a predetermined educational objective for the group activity. The program must be pre-approved by ISO for sponsoring Visiting International Professional Scholars on J-1 visas. To qualify as a Professional Scholar (HEPPS job class code 0436) the beneficiary must:

• Be engaged in professional practice.
• Be engaged "full-time" in a prescribed course of scholarly research or training at the UW.
• Not be a matriculated student at the UW (international students participating in medical clerkships may enroll for courses in accordance with the UW School of Medicine policies).
• Receive substantial financial support for his or her program from the UW or appropriate funding organization. Personal funds may supplement but not substitute for institutional funding.
• Engage in a program at the UW that is short-term and temporary.
• Graduates of foreign medical schools will not engage in clinical programs including internships, residencies or other specialized training involving more than incidental patient contact.

Students enrolled and pursuing degrees at foreign universities may participate in full-time supervised research and work-based learning internships at the UW for a maximum stay of 12 months for each degree/major. The interns must be sponsored by an authorized faculty member of a UW academic department or program who agrees to closely supervise the intern in accordance with established requirements. Interns are not permitted to take credit classes at the UW. In certain circumstances, interns are permitted to receive a stipend from the sponsoring department or program.  For more information, see Visiting International Student Internship and Training (VISIT) program details. UW Educational Outreach administers the VISIT program on behalf of the University of Washington.